• Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • House Stories
    • Studio Work
  • Contact
Menu

Design.daily

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Portfolio
    • House Stories
    • Studio Work
  • Contact
Gio Ponti's D.153.1 armchair designed in 1953. Reissued by Molteni & C.

Gio Ponti's D.153.1 armchair designed in 1953. Reissued by Molteni & C.

Classic reissues of 2013

December 30, 2013

There are always a number of designs from the past that find their way back into production after many years of languishing in a manufacturer's proverbial cupboard. The poor economic outlook in Europe saw quite a few products brought back to life as a way to add new items to catalogues without spending scarce R&D dollars but 2013 also saw a handful of genuinely exciting reissues that can hold their own against contemporary releases.

Ponti's D.153.1 in it's signature two tone blue and white leather with a satin brass frame.

Ponti's D.153.1 in it's signature two tone blue and white leather with a satin brass frame.

Molteni & C, well known for it's cutting edge contemporary designs by Patricia Urquiola and more recently Ron Gilad, has been implementing the reissue a number Gio Ponti classics from the the 1950's in the last couple of years. The D.153.1 armchair from 1953 and the D.555.1 'tea table' from 1954/1955 are two of seven items released so far. The crystal topped table was designed specifically for a house by Ponti in via Dezza in Milan and features Ponti's love of geometric pattern as it's central decorative motif. As was often the case with Ponti's work this involves playing with visual perception.

Ponti's D.555.1 'tea table' from 1954/1955 is made from painted metal with a crystal glass top.

Ponti's D.555.1 'tea table' from 1954/1955 is made from painted metal with a crystal glass top.

Bernard Schottlander's 'Mantis' floor light uses a javelin style arm resting in a counter-balanced bracket with holes for adjustment of it's angle.

Bernard Schottlander's 'Mantis' floor light uses a javelin style arm resting in a counter-balanced bracket with holes for adjustment of it's angle.

One of the most exciting reissues for me this year was the lighting range by Bernard Schottlander that has been reissued by the French company DCW Editions. Schottlander only designed lights for a brief period in the 1950’s and early sixties but his designs were as spectacular as those by well-known practitioners like Frenchman, Serge Mouille. Schottlander was born in Germany but lived in England from 1939 and during the war was a welder in a factory. After the war he became a sculptor, welding large public sculptures in steel. The ‘Mantis’ series of lights designed in 1951. The reissued lighting range consists of a wall, floor and table lights - all slightly agricultural - but engineered with simple efficiency.  Each lamp has movement at the heart of the design. The shade comes in red or black while the base is available in black or grey. 

 The wall light version of Schottlander's 'Mantis' light. Reissued by DCW Editions.
 The table version of Bernard Schottlander's 'Mantis' light, reissued by DCW Editions.

Arflex is an Italian company that has been around for 65 years and has a wealth of back catalogue to draw on. This year they released two sofas that have origins in famous chairs. The 'Madame' sofa is the sofa version of Marco Zanuso's 'Lady' chair that won a Gold medal at the IX Triennale in MIlan in 1951. Offered with either a curved seat and back or a more conventional rectangular seat/back layout, the sofa really comes into it's own where the seat and back reflect the curvaceous nature of the original chair.

Based on Marco Zanuso's 'Lady' chair released in 1951, the 'Madame' sofa comes from Arflex's vast archives.

Based on Marco Zanuso's 'Lady' chair released in 1951, the 'Madame' sofa comes from Arflex's vast archives.

Zanuso's '275' table light was also reissued in 2013 by Oluce. While not particularly well known for his lighting designs Zanuso did design a small number. Designed between 1963 and 1965, the '275' was conceived as a desk lamp but rather than pursue a flexible multi-armed task lamp, Zanuso opted to create a light that pivots 360º around its base. The large 42cm diameter dome is partially translucent. The entire lamp therefore gives off an ambient glow while directing the majority of the light down onto the tabletop. The lamp is available with either a white or black lacquered base but in both instances with a white thermo-plastic shade.

Marco Zanuso's '275' table lamp, reissued by Oluce.

Marco Zanuso's '275' table lamp, reissued by Oluce.

Danish brand, Gubi, has been releasing a large number of classic designs by Greta Grossman and Jacques Adnet in recent years. This year saw the reissue of the 'Turbo' pendant light by Louis Weisdorf. The design uses a complex spiral of aluminium ribbons to create a ball-like but highly sculptural light.  The lamp was designed in 1965 and first put into production in 1967. It comes in 36cm and 62cm diameters.

Luis Weisdorf's 'Turbo' pendant designed in 1965. Reissued by Gubi.

Luis Weisdorf's 'Turbo' pendant designed in 1965. Reissued by Gubi.

The 'Turbo' pendant designed by Louis Weisdorf 1965 and released in 1967. Reissued by Gubi.

The 'Turbo' pendant designed by Louis Weisdorf 1965 and released in 1967. Reissued by Gubi.

The 'T904' is a beautifully minimal bench of steel and timber designed by Gastone Rinaldi. Reissued by Poltona Frau, the ‘T904’ bench is still thoroughly modern while maintaining strong links to the tubular steel designs of the 1930’s. Gastone Rinaldi was one of the foremost experts on curved tubular steel technology in Italy and he spent a lifetime testing the material to the limit in his extraordinary designs. The 'T904' bench was reissued by Poltrona Frau along with two chair designs by Rinaldi from the 1950’s. Rinaldi was a master of his craft and had worked with all the greatest Italian designers of the Twentieth Century such as Mollino, Ponti and Zanuso. This elegant piece of furniture evokes the genius of the Bauhaus and the work or Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand in the 20’s and 30’s, but with its own identity and originality.

'T904' bench by Gastone Rinaldi circa 1950. Reissued by Poltrona Frau.

'T904' bench by Gastone Rinaldi circa 1950. Reissued by Poltrona Frau.

Not as well known as many of Arne Jacobsen’s chair designs like the Series 7 or the 'Ant', the ‘Tongue’, designed in 1955, has been reissued by Danish company, Howe. As a small chair it can be used in all sorts of space deprived areas from café’s to meeting rooms where it brings a cute animated quality. The chair is available in either a purist’s form - a moulded timber shell in oak or walnut veneer - or for softies upholstered in Kvadrat Divina fabric or leather.

The 'Tongue' chair designed by Arne Jacobsen 1955. Reissued by Howe.

The 'Tongue' chair designed by Arne Jacobsen 1955. Reissued by Howe.

The ‘Mosquito' chair by Slovenian designer Niko Kralj, is a unique combination of an innovative two-part moulded plywood seat and a double ‘V’ leg design. Designed in 1953, the chair rivals the great American plywood designs of the late forties and early fifties such as the Eames’ DCW chairs and those by Danish architect/designer Arne Jacobsen. While other chairs by Kralj have been in production for some years this particular design was only prototyped in 2012 and is now finally in full production by Slovenian company Rex Kralj. Available in natural beech, white lacquered beech, black stained ash, or with a walnut seat and back with beech legs in a two-tone combination (as shown below). 

Niko Kralj's 'Mosquito' chair from 1953. Reissued by Rex Kralj.

Niko Kralj's 'Mosquito' chair from 1953. Reissued by Rex Kralj.

In Furniture, Product design, Lighting Tags Gio Ponti, Niko Kralj, Bernard Schottlander, Arne Jacobsen, Joe Columbo, Marco Zanuso
← A tough time to start a new brand - or is it?Neri & Hu - Furniture & objects →

Recent Posts

Blog
Latest and greatest from Maison & Objet / imm Cologne 2019
about 3 weeks ago
Happy New Year from Design daily
about a month ago
Derek Wilson Ceramics - a profile of the artist
about a month ago

Categories

  • Scenography (1)
  • Book (3)
  • Interview (3)
  • Technology (3)
  • Photography (5)
  • Travel (5)
  • graphic design (5)
  • Styling (6)
  • Material spotlight (7)
  • ceramics (7)
  • Interior Design (9)
  • Architecture (11)
  • art (11)
  • Craft (12)
  • Industry comment (12)
  • Brand profile (30)
  • Industry event/tradefair (38)
  • Product design (43)
  • Lighting (49)
  • Interior objects (52)
  • Designer Profiles (54)
  • installation/event (55)
  • Furniture (66)

ISM Banner-01.jpg
Jam Factory Design Daily_2.jpg
Coco Flip DesignDaily1.jpg
chris-hardy-pty-ltd_02d.jpg
Dessein image1.JPG
Design-Daily---Dennis-Abalos-JACARANDA-V03.gif
Design_Daily_Ad_2[2].jpg
articolo_3 2.jpg

Latest from Design Daily on Instagram

 

Another item from the Maison & Objet / imm Cologne fair blog post. The Aero V open wardrobe for Living Divani at imm Cologne. For more go to www.designdaily.com.au/blog #immcologne2019 ologne #livingdivani #aeroVwardrobe #shibuleru @livingdivani @shibuleru
With Maison & Objet and imm Cologne just finished, Design daily has done a round up of all the new and interesting furniture and lighting pieces launched at the two fairs (and a few good looking stands like the Kvadrat stand at imm Cologne designed by GamFratesi shown here). Check out the blog post at www.designdaily.com.au/blog @kvadrattextiles #designdailytradeshowagogo #contemporaryfurniture #contemporarylighting #immcologne2019 #maisonobjet2019
Happy New Year to all the followers of Design daily. Here's hoping 2019 will be a great year for all of you. Shown here is the wonderfully colourful and curvaceous Danielle Brustman installation at the Rigg Design Prize 2018 which is still on display at the NGV's Ian Potter Centre until February 24. Brustman collaborated with Volker Haug Studio for lighting and Matt Staples for building and joinery. @daniellebrustman 
@volkerhaug #riggdesignprize2018 #daniellebrustman #volkerhaugstudio
An image from Derek Wilson's solo show The Constructed Vessel at London's Flow Gallery (2018). If you like this image be sure to check out the latest blog post on Design daily (www.designdaily.com.au/blog) which profiles the Northern Irish artist and shows a variety of his work styles - from his more functional pieces through to highly geometric vessels that are as much sculpture as they are an object to hold things. For the images for the exhibition The Constructed Vessel (as shown here), Wilson worked with photographer Beth Evans and stylist Sania Pell to create a structure in which the vessels can revel in the subtle shifts of light. #derekwilson #detekwilsonceramics #ceramics #northernirelandceramics #constructedvessel @derekjwilson

Posts by Month

 

  • January 2019 (1)
  • December 2018 (3)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • March 2018 (2)
  • February 2018 (1)
  • January 2018 (2)
  • November 2017 (3)
  • October 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (3)
  • August 2017 (3)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (4)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (4)
  • February 2017 (4)
  • January 2017 (4)
  • December 2016 (3)
  • November 2016 (4)
  • October 2016 (5)
  • September 2016 (4)
  • August 2016 (5)
  • July 2016 (4)
  • June 2016 (5)
  • May 2016 (4)
  • April 2016 (3)
  • March 2016 (5)
  • February 2016 (4)
  • January 2016 (3)
  • December 2015 (4)
  • November 2015 (4)
  • October 2015 (3)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (5)
  • July 2015 (4)
  • June 2015 (5)
  • May 2015 (4)
  • April 2015 (2)
  • March 2015 (5)
  • February 2015 (4)
  • January 2015 (4)
  • December 2014 (5)
  • November 2014 (4)
  • October 2014 (4)
  • September 2014 (5)
  • August 2014 (4)
  • July 2014 (4)
  • June 2014 (5)
  • May 2014 (4)
  • April 2014 (4)
  • March 2014 (5)
  • February 2014 (4)
  • January 2014 (4)
  • December 2013 (5)
  • November 2013 (4)
  • October 2013 (3)

Privacy Policy